Collectively Building
The Back Story
I will give my Uncle Bob credit for getting me into model making way back in the late 70s. He was then a sales representative for Parker Brothers and suggested to my parents that they get an airplane model for me as a Christmas gift. A Hurricane, a Bf109 and a B-17G were my first kits. Others followed through the 1980s and I started developing a "Stash" when a local model shop opened up within a 10-minute walk from where I had a part-time job. Needless to say a portion of my pay ended up getting spent in that shop and others as I ranged out looking for subject (this was before on-line shopping) and I still prefer a local store visit to provide inspiration and supplies.
​
I have been assembling and painting model aircraft ever since I was a teenager Early on I decided it would be a good idea to keep my collection in the same scale so I could easily compare aircraft sizes and features. At the start I was only interested in WWII aircraft types and didn't venture into jet types.
​
Initially I built for fun, often making kits with fictitious markings and taking liberties with the paint schemes. That all changed after I brought an example of my recently completed Hawker Typhoon IB into my father's retail store. As it happened, that day a gentleman (I believe his name was Harry Lucas) came into the store and upon seeing my kit, he commented that he did not recognize the aircraft's squadron codes. I explained that I had just made them up, to which he politely added that the camouflage pattern was not accurate either. Suitably impressed, I asked him how he knew all this at a mere glance... "I flew them during WWII" he replied. Gobsmacked with the realization that this hobby wasn't just about some neat looking aircraft you could assemble and paint, but one that could encompass history and persons intricately involved with these machines, I set a new course. My model builds would now focus on being more replicas of historic aircraft and in many cases would serve as a small tribute to those tied to its history.
​
By the 1980's I got interested in jet aircraft as the Teen generation of jets (F-14; F-15. F-16, F-18) caught my attention. This was closely followed by my delving into books on the Vietnam War. Aircraft types flown in this conflict quickly gained my interest as well. My build collection now spans WWII era almost up to present day. I have quite a few examples flown by Canadian crews over the years with most of my subjects related to a particular aircrew or bit of history.
​
Early on, I produced mostly museum examples (with little if any weathering) for display after this shift and much later got involved in suitably weathering my aircraft builds. Amazingly most of the model aircraft that I have built over time, still exist in my collection today. Some serve as a reminder of how my skills and patience have progressed over time and every kit is a less-than-perfect example of this learning process. Most of my aircraft are on display in multiple shelving units with clear-front doors (to keep the dust out). Now that the kids have all grown up and moved out, my growing collection has been allowed to take over the entire basement area. Now referred to as "The Hangar" it is home base to over 250 1/48th scale aircraft kits.
Age of Information (Overload)
In the Age of Information, one aspect to keep in mind when making a model of something is, "what is most important to me (the builder) at this time”. Reviews and opinions on subjects and kits typically abound or depending on the subject, are scarce or lacking. Certain aircraft kits that have been constructed by people who have worked closely with the subject, or are "superfans" with great access to resources, tend to have a lot more critiques. A former pilot or crew-chief who worked on the aircraft can pretty well tell you where the model inaccuracies are. If you like a subject and want to build a model of it, you have to weigh the pros and cons of the "knowns", realize there may be unknowns, as well as debatable opinions (not to mention new information that comes to light after you build your version).
​​
Just because one company may have the ultimate kit doesn't necessarily make it the only kit worth building (and you should be ashamed to admit that you built anything else :). There is also typically the factor of the cost of acquisition for yourself (with all the influences that come into play here... hopefully you don't have to sneak that new purchase past anyone ;)
​​
With all the now available information, (and many of us older model makers recall the days, before the Internet, when information was scarce) sometimes it can get to be too much. If what you originally wanted was to get charged up about building an aircraft, this may be the time when 'ignorance is bliss' applies. Always keep in mind at the end of the day, "You do You".
​
I often look at other model maker's spectacular work, and for a moment get a bit envious, but then I have to remind myself, I have ambitions to build a lot of models (as I keep finding aircraft that I don't have in the collection or favourites that I want in various schemes) so, do I really want to make that kind of investment into one kit? Time wise and in many cases finance wise. All due respect to the builder on achieving that level, however at the end of the day it's best for what I want, to hedge things a bit and not overcommit myself. (I do want to keep that stash down to a reasonable level :)
Take the positive aspects of model sites away with you. The inspirational, that technique or component you may want to try, the 'I never thought of doing that' stuff. I have found the model makers I have met and continue to interact with, a great group of encouraging people who just want to enjoy the hobby in a way that suits them and encourage you to do the same - Cheers all!
